Best voice acting (Japanese or English) done in anime

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-10-19 02:28am

I don't know about voice actress, maybe Megumi Hayashibara, not sure.

But for voice actor, definetly whoever did Vash's Japanese voice. Hands down. In my opinion.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-10-19 02:41am

Given that I do not speak Japanese and am absolutely incapable of judging voice acting in that language, I will not say anything other than Koichi Yamadera is the fucking man.

For English voice acting, I'd say Wendee Lee as Faye, Kari Wahlgren as Haruko, David Lucas as Spike, Daveigh Chase as Chihiro, Richard George as Batou (I didn't care for the GiTS dub but he just owned this role), and Jennifer Sekiguchi as Mamimi.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-10-19 03:04am

Megumi Hayashibara in Slayers. That show just goes to show you how important voice acting can be. In Japanese, Megumi brings life to Lina Inverse's characters making her exactly the right mix of annoying, homicidal, cute and angry. The American actress is simply annoying.

Slayers also gives us the actor who played Xellos (forget his name) and Zelgadis (once again, I got nothing) which had crucial intonations to their voice that made any translation impossible. Even my friends who hate reading subtitles insist that we watch this show in Japanese.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-10-19 03:42am

I can't make a fair judgement about Japanese voice actors, though Ueda Yuji is a favorite.

Peter Kelamis, Scott McNeil, Sean Schemmel (don't laugh) are some of my favorite english voice actors. Kelamis' voice just worked so well for Goku in the first two DBZ movies. McNeil had the best Piccolo ever, and Schemmel got really good after DBZ season 3.

Even though two of my favorites are from Ocean Group, I have to admit that I'm tired of hearing them in what seems to be every other anime. Especially Richard Ian Cox, who did Bit Cloud from that horrible anime, Zoids, and Inu Yasha. His voice just sucks but he gets so many lead roles.

SHODAN · Post by **SHODAN** » 2003-10-19 03:58am

The best I've heard is Mint's voice in Galaxy Angel, Miyuki Sawashiro.

Shenlong_Mizuno · Post by **Shenlong_Mizuno** » 2003-10-19 04:12am

The voice acting in saiyuki was pretty good, its the first time I prefer the english over the japanese VAs. Gunsmith cats was also fairly well dubbed in english

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2003-10-19 05:27am

All I have to say is I hate it when American pornstars try to do voiceovers for Hentai. They're always speaking in like 10000 octaves too why and squealing like pigs.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-10-19 06:47am

Hamel wrote:
Peter Kelamis, Scott McNeil, Sean Schemmel (don't laugh) are some of my favorite english voice actors. Kelamis' voice just worked so well for Goku in the first two DBZ movies. McNeil had the best Piccolo ever, and Schemmel got really good after DBZ season 3.

this is very true, I can remember when they hit season 3 and suddenly all the voices changed, it was a big WTF.

My favorite voice acting though......FLCL English,

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-10-19 06:50am

Though Hamel, I agree with you that Richard Ian COx has to go, I disagree that Zoids is horrible in itself. Well, okay, the season 3 "New Century Zero" battle of the week motif was increidlby lame but the first two seasons were kewl.

Companion Cube · Post by **Companion Cube** » 2003-10-19 08:58am

Steven Brand, the guy who did Anderson in the dub of Hellsing, was excellent, IMO.

I take an eye for an eye! This technology God's divine gift, the Lord gives us tools to fight inhuman demons like you..!

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2003-10-19 09:52am

The overall dub quality of Macross Plus was kind of iffy, but Beau Billingslea (Col. Millard Johnson) and Bryan Cranston (Lt. Isamu Dyson) did rather good jobs.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-10-19 12:20pm

Iceberg wrote:but Beau Billingslea (Col. Millard Johnson)

I think he did a fantastic job as Jet in Bebop.

I also liked the voices for Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-10-19 01:20pm

I think it's quite safe to say that Cowboy Bebop is the best series dub. Ever.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-10-19 01:29pm

Well, I like the voice acting in Spirited Away all around, but Disney got A List actors like all the Miyazaki films it dubs.

I've got no idea how to judge Japanese voice acting, though I'm told by a native speaker that The Irresponsible Captain Tylor has her favorite voice acting all around and that she really likes the voice acting in the new Rockman.EXE series (the one that was released disastorously in the US as Megaman: NT Warrior)

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-10-19 01:31pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:I think it's quite safe to say that Cowboy Bebop is the best series dub. Ever.

Yeah, pretty much.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-10-19 05:10pm

Dalton wrote:
DPDarkPrimus wrote:I think it's quite safe to say that Cowboy Bebop is the best series dub. Ever.
Yeah, pretty much.

I still don't think they got Ed right, but hey, can't complain too much.

SHODAN · Post by **SHODAN** » 2003-10-19 05:14pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:best series dub. Ever.

That does not take much.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-10-19 11:39pm

Best Japanese VA hands down has to be Megumi Hayashibara. A fine actress whose vocal and character ranges are quite remarkable. And she's a fantastic singer.

My personal favourite, however, is Ai Orikasa. Her voice is so sensual and warm, and she also has an outstanding singing voice, particularly with songs that don't go too rapid and let her hold onto the notes.

Mugihito was great as Keel Lorentz in Eva, in my slightly biased opinion.

Masako Nozawa as Son Goku (and Gohan and Goten) was also quite good, too.

For English VAs, while Wendee Lee is excellent, it's slightly annoying that most of her characters sound too similar in both voice and characterisation.

As ADR Director for the Love Hina dub, she should have known better when she casted herself as Kaolla Su, making what was a great character in the original into a jabbering idiot with a horrendous voice. Then again, considering that virtually every character in the dub was attrocious, as the ADR Director you really want to ask her just what the hell anyone was thinking for the whole thing. Worst modern mainstream dub ever...

David Lucas is excellent, and I also like Richard Cox (Inuyasha, Kai Shiden from Mobile Suit Gundam) and Juliet Cesario (OVA Beldandy)...

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-10-19 11:50pm

I heard that IG handpicked the actors for the Love Hina dub.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-10-19 11:52pm

I've also been reminded to mention Wendee Lee, who's been doing animes since the early 80s and was one of the key voices in Robotech, Akira, Dirty Pair, and Cowboy Bebop to name a few..

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-10-19 11:59pm

Durran Korr wrote:I heard that IG handpicked the actors for the Love Hina dub.

I never heard that, personally. If it's true, then shame on them.

I do know that Ken Akamatsu did have final approval of the Japanese cast (as well as the crew).

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-10-20 12:06am

The guy who does Roger Smith, and the guy who does Norman, in Big O.

The upper-crust English voice of Norman just kicks ass..

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-10-20 12:07am

The guy who does Roger Smith

That's David Lucas/Steve Blum. Same as Spike.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2003-10-20 04:58pm

Durran Korr wrote:
The guy who does Roger Smith
That's David Lucas/Steve Blum. Same as Spike.

It is? Wow... I'd never realized. Must be where Spike is so laidback, and Roger always tense.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-10-20 11:51pm

The Kernel wrote:I still don't think they got Ed right, but hey, can't complain too much.

Ed sounds fine to me. Sufficiently mad.